The next week will decide this team's fate

[a700hitter]

But of course they're going to drop 14 of the next 20.

It concerns me that Ellsbury is hurt again. When he went down is when things went bad.

[TheMino007]

Its about damn time, this team should be playing like this; great pitching and enough runs to get the job done. I'm glad Theo had the smarts to hold onto Lester in Clay when their names were being floated for trades.

[Dipre]

Its about damn time' date=' this team should be playing like this; great pitching and enough runs to get the job done. I'm glad Theo had the smarts to hold onto Lester in Clay when their names were being floated for trades.[/quote']

 

But wait, weren't you the guy laughing his ass off at the prospect of the team playing .618 ball the rest of the way?

 

According to what you've said for most of the season, this team is "not that good".

[Beaneater]

I have to give Jacko credit. IIRC, he predicted that if the Sox won the 2nd game vs. the Yanks, we would go on a tear. And we have done that.

 

Elsewhere, I voiced a hope (not a prediction) that we would get 3 good turns out of the rotation and go on a 12-3 or 13-2 run. We're in the process of doing that, with noticeable effects on the standings.

 

I'm actually worried about our next 14 games against the scrubs of the league (OK, the A's aren't exactly scrubs at .500, but they're no Rays). Here's what I'm afraid of -- we finish a veeery tough stretch against the creme de la creme with a 7-3 or 8-2 record (probably 7-3 since the pitching matchup tonight is unfavorable). We're pleased, the players are pleased, everyone is smiling and prancing around like unicorns. I'm just afraid of a let-down in the next few series, especially the next one. We have Dice-K and Wakefield going in the first two games, and we all know that they're both capable of laying a stinker. Then we face Greinke in Game 3... admittedly, Lester should make corned beef hash out of the Royals' lineup, but Greinke's OK, too. What I don't want to see is an unexpectedly tough series against the Royals, a loss of momentum, etc.

 

So... let's hope for more good pitching, more Papi renaissance, and overtaking the Jays and Yanks within the next 10 games.

[Dipre]

I've been predicting a team resurgence since late April and no one gives me any credit. This team is too good to play like it did most of April. The moment of the run was unimportant, it was going to happen..

[TheMino007]

People said when the team was struggling it was only May that there was a lot of time left, well you can say the same thing now when the team is playing well and winning 7/8 games. Its only May. The offense won't be this hot all year. The question of whether of Ortiz can keep this pace up all year or not will remain unanswered.The bullpen is still a massive concern. Ellsbury may be hurt yet again. Scutaro sucks. Beckett is still a question mark.

[Dipre]

People said when the team was struggling it was only May that there was a lot of time left' date=' well you can say the same thing now when the team is playing well and winning 7/8 games. Its only May. The offense won't be this hot all year. The question of whether of Ortiz can keep this pace up all year or not will remain unanswered.The bullpen is still a massive concern. Ellsbury may be hurt yet again. Scutaro sucks. Beckett is still a question mark.[/quote']

 

The bullpen is doing well, the offense is actually overperforming, but that should even out with the return of Cameron and Ellsbury and V-Mart and Pedroia getting back to where they're supposed to be. The BP is getting outs, and it will continue to do so as long as the starters keep giving 6+ IP. The only real question mark is Beckett. I see lots more reason for optimism than concern.

 

But hey, if you wanna look at the glass half empty, that's your prerrogative, but if they keep playing well, don't take an "i know they were a really good team all along" approach.

[jacksonianmarch]

I told you the sox team was a 90+ win team. I think the Yankee team is a 100 win team assuming they can get f***ing healthy. The question is whether the Rays are as good as they started or whether they will fall off the map.

[Dipre]

To be a 100+ win team, you need to win 100 games, and to win 100 games, one of the key components is health.

[TheMino007]

Yankees have an old ass team, injuries are to be expected with them.

[SoxSport]

Hey, this team ain't dead yet. Papi looks like the old Papi, VMart is starting to hit, the pitching is coming around (they're even holding runners on) and Beltre is beltring (!) the ball. If they can get Ellsbury back, they'll be very competitive. Sweeping the Rays in TB? and 2/3 in Philly is impressive.

[jacksonianmarch]

To be a 100+ win team' date=' you need to win 100 games, and to win 100 games, one of the key components is health.[/quote']

 

They are on pace for 99 wins right now after going through the toughest stretch they'll see this yr and with 3 starters on the DL AND with their 3 and 4 hitters not hitting. They get Grandy back either tomorrow or friday, they get Posada back in mid June and will probably buy a hitter on the open market if the DH spot isnt fixed internally. They havent played KC, Cleveland, Seattle or Toronto yet and are still 10 games over through 46. My guess is, they'll be just fine.

[Dipre]

They are on pace for 99 wins right now after going through the toughest stretch they'll see this yr and with 3 starters on the DL AND with their 3 and 4 hitters not hitting. They get Grandy back either tomorrow or friday' date=' they get Posada back in mid June and will probably buy a hitter on the open market if the DH spot isnt fixed internally. They havent played KC, Cleveland, Seattle or Toronto yet and are still 10 games over through 46. My guess is, they'll be just fine.[/quote']

 

My point isn't that they won't win 100 games (and you just said yourself they're actually not on pace to win 100 games) but that health is the biggest obstacle, which is exactly what i said. They could get completely healthy, or a couple of the older players could land back on the DL. Same goes for the Red Sox. It happens to older ballclubs, which both the Sox and Yanks currently boast.

[TedWilliams101]

I don't think our offense will take much of a regression as the season goes on, unless a couple guys have career low funks. Considering career averages:

1. Ellsbury: .295, .347, .759 with speed

2. Pedroia: .304, .367, .824 (20 HRs real possibilty)

3. Ortiz is interesting. If his fall off in 08 and slow start in 09 was simply his wrist injury, a strong season might very well be likely. 30+ HRs, 100+ RBIs, and .900+ OPS should be a STARTING point.

4. Youkilis: .294, .395, .890 (25+ HR)

5. Vmart: .303, .365, .841 (20+ HR) (numbers w/ Boston)

6. Drew: .276, .386, .867 (20+ HR) (numbers w/ Boston)

7. Beltre: .289, .339, .826 (15+ HR, 20+ reachable) (road splits)

8. Cameron: .250, .340, .787 - Age might have caught up with him, I don't know what to expect now.

9. Scutaro: not sure what to expect, but somewhere between .338 and .370 OBP and .720 and .780 OPS.

 

So as a lineup, if healthy, the only real question marks besides Ortiz are from our 8/9 hitters. If they perform as expected, we will great great production out of the bottom of the lineup. If not, it's still serviceable.

 

Our 1-7 looks NASTY if they can all get going. Ellsbury and Pedroia are the perfect table setters, Ortiz and Youk are a great 3/4 punch who should both give .900+ OPS, and then Vmart, Drew, Beltre is a 5-7 that is easy .825+ OPS and 20+ HRs. I'm not worried.

[jdr0317]

2 games at NYY, 3 at PHL. That's 5 games against last year's World Series. (with 2 games vs the Twins in between and then 3 at Tampa to follow). If this team goes 1-4 in those 5 games, this season is done. Moves will have to be made.

 

On a positive note, the 5/22 5/23 and 5/24 games are all nationally televised.

 

Predictions? I'm thinking they go 1-1 vs NYY, tease us by taking 2 of 3 vs PHL and then drop the 3 games to TB. I'm an optimist.

 

Oopsie.

 

Two out of three ain't bad.

[BedpanJack]

They are on pace for 99 wins right now after going through the toughest stretch they'll see this yr and with 3 starters on the DL AND with their 3 and 4 hitters not hitting. They get Grandy back either tomorrow or friday' date=' they get Posada back in mid June and will probably buy a hitter on the open market if the DH spot isnt fixed internally. They havent played KC, Cleveland, Seattle or Toronto yet and are still 10 games over through 46. My guess is, they'll be just fine.[/quote']

 

And they were on pace for 117 wins earlier this month. Their stock's worse than Blockbuster's.

[jacksonianmarch]

Hi Dutchy.

[Lester82]

So Jacko is referring to him as Grandy now?

 

It's bad enough when baseball players do it.

 

Anyway, Jacko, blabber on about yet another GREATEST TEAM EVER playing in Yankee Stadium this year. I know, I know... You haven't yet proclaimed this latest edition to be the greatest...

[Lester82]

My guess is' date=' they'll be just fine.[/quote']

 

When do you not say that about the Yanks?

 

I mean, come on. Seriously.

[Dipre]

This is a thread about the Sox, not the Yankees' "utter awesomeness."

[Spudboy]

Hi Dutchy.

 

:lol:

[BedpanJack]

Hi Dutchy.

 

Try not to stare too long during your sponge baths today, the old men don't like that. And make sure their behinds get nice and clean, no one wants to be a stinky old man.

[yeszir]

Ohhhhh I get it the name is a dig at Jacko. Fun.

[Spudboy]

Ohhhhh I get it the name is a dig at Jacko. Fun.

 

 

I suspect he has at least one other account as well.